The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-12-08
Governments Receipts and
Expenditures.
A VERY FAVORABLE SHOWING
Internal Revenue Taxation-The Sill
yer DOlIar-Other Recommends
lions to Congress.
The Treasury Report

lOtoty VI InC l4CdSu1SI III Las nuAud
report, submitted to Congress to-day
says that the total ordinary receipts Of
the government, during the year ending
June Both, 1887, were 1911, 40S 900, anc
that the total ordinary expenditures
were s3l5. 1886, 900. leaving, with thu
amount drawn from the cash balance
IN the Treasury, $24 ,445, 900, a total sur
plus of $50, l23 900, which was Offered
| for the redemption of bonds. The re-
ceipts for the year show an increase o.
| $34 ,963. 600, over the year before, and the
expenditures show an increase of $25, :
4s9 COZ. For the present year the rev
enues are estimated at 1888, 600 900, AND
the expenditures at $316,8 BIT 600, leaving
- n estimated surplus OF SCI, 1872 600, on
June 3Oth, 1888. The Secretary esti-
mates the surplus for the year 1889 al
$56 ,469, 600. The Secretary says the
urgency Of the question of surplus
revenues is so great that it
shoulc demand the attention of both
executive branches of government.
The Secretary mentions the following
ways in which receipts and expendl.
lures of government may be equalized
.'First-The purchase of the interest
bearing debt of governm= mt. Second
Large expenditures by government for
other purposes than the purchase of
bonds, so that they shall each year
equal the taxation of that year. Third
Ire reduction of revenue from tax
alton to an amount actually required
to meet the necessary expenses. All
of these expedIents havein common the
one merit OF preventing arrangement
TO busiCess which must follow the
hoardi g or locking up in the Treasury
of the circulating medium OF the peo-
ple." In regard to the first plan the
Secretary agrees with what the Pres
ident in mis- message said on the same
subject. He then says: Il cannot be-
iieve that Congress will adopt the Sec
ond expedient, VIZ, the enlargement Of
government expenses simply to ex
pend the money raised by taxation,
when the public veal does not other
wise call for the expenditure. The re-
due ion or the .eVenue from taxa
ton is the only fit remedy for
the evils which threaten this country.
This may be accomplished in various
ways. One is to reduce or abolish in
ternal revenue taxation. In favor of
this is the fact that in a small part of
LIQUORS and tobacco is thought to be op
pressive, and is odious to the people of
those regions, and to the further fact
that by its reduction the expenses OF its
collection might be somewhat reduced.
The chief cause for prejudice against
this tax seems to be that there was no
such tax before the war for the Union.
1t is looked upon as a remainder of
the measures adopted to raise money
to carry on the war, md which
ought not to be continued in time of
peace, and is interfering in some way
with the natural rights Of mankind.
That the internal taxation of sririts
and tobacco began during the war is not
the reason why 1t should be done away
with now, if it be in itself wise. The
fact that the rates of custom taxation
were raised during the same time far
higher than ever before in our
history, and have been continued until
now ought not to determine the manner
of their treatment. This should rather
depend upon what is right and expedl-
emit at the present time. Neither pas
sion, prejudice nor ssntimentality
should have place in the consideration
of the question of taxation. As to the
expense of collecting the internal reve-
nue., ]. suggest that the smalgam stion !
Of the customs and internal revenue
systems is entirely feasible, and that
thereby large number of offices might |
be abolished; and that the expense of |
the whole system might be made |
not 10 exceed that of the efficient |
Of the customs laws. |
commend this suggestion to
the careful consideration of Congress,
To do away with the whole revenue |
from internal taxes st present would |
80 diminish the revenues that it would
bs necessary either TO lay duties on ar |
ticles of importation now free, such as
tea aud coffee, or to suspend the sink |
ing fund requirements, and also
materially diminish other expenses of |
government. But 1t Is not well either
to abolish or reduce internal revenue
taxation. 1t is q tax upon whisky, |
beer and tobacco, things which are in q |
very small measure necessary to the
health or happiness OF mankind. If
they are necessary to any unfortunate
man, they are tar less necessary even
to him than are thousand other ar |
5icles which government taxes. This
AK is the least burdensome. least IN
ust of all taxes which government lays
IF can lay upon the people. It should |
lot be abolished, nor should it be re-
iuced if. with due regard to the exist |
ng conditions of labor aud capital. |
sufficient reduction can be made in the
.axation of necessary articles which are |
n the daily use of al the people.
Aud now there is left only the reye- |
1ue from customs taxation TO be COL
;idered. Here is where the reduction |
should be made, and while reducing, |
advantage should be taken of the OPP |
oortunity to reform the abuses and in
capabilities of the tariff laws, and add to |
The free list as many articles as posi-
Die, and reduce the duties on every |
lutiable article to the lowest point pos
iible; but in ascertaining the possibili |
les, the present situation of labor and |
business must always be kept in mind.
After the questions of the annual
'evenue is disposed of, there still re-
mains the surplus money which il III
he treasury to be considered. This
surplus amounted on December 1st to
55, 258 600 and will probably amount to
lao, 900, COO on the 30th of June next
)ne use which can be made OF this |
money is to diminish taxation to
Iuch an extent that the annual revenues
will be less for some years to come than |
he nFiafI0nss fbng tho aac,, n